Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Ireland to play Wales in semi-final

Wales won their penalty stroke competition against the Czech Republic this morning 4-1 meaning they will play Ireland in Thursday's semi-final.


Rhys Joyce, Ben Croxall, James Hughes and Rufus McNaught-Barrington while Daniel Piterak ballooned the Czechs video gantry and Stepan Bernatek limply rolled their second effort wide.

Ireland will play Wales at 3pm tomorrow with the Czech Republic up against Russia at 5.30pm in the tournament's semi-finals. The Irish have beaten Wales in their last three international encounters - twice in Wrexham in June's Glyndwr Cup and once at the recent Celtic Cup.

Late last night, Scotland's appeal from the match against the Czechs that "the ball had entered the goal but exited through a hole in the net" was dismissed on the basis of tournament regulation 14.4.

It states "No protest may be made to or considered by the Tournament Director from a decision of an umpire or video umpire during a match". Scotland are now consigned to the relegation pool.

Thursday's fixtures:
Relegation pool: (1oam) Italy vs Scotland; (12.30pm) Belarus vs Switzerland
Semi-finals: (3pm) Ireland vs Wales; (5.30pm) Czech Republic vs Russia

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is well throwing the protest out based on a rule, but if the Scottish team can show on their own video information that the match officials and the video referee have made a terrible error.
Yes the rule states this, but we have all these officials and hangers on at tournaments so that mistakes are not made.

Anonymous said...

I think the point is if you start allowing complaints over dodgy umpiring decisions in a game with appeals to a TD then every aggreived coach will be putting in a complaint and it would be pandemonium.

There's no video ref here so they couldn't appeal during the game...

Anonymous said...

If indeed the ball did enter the net etc. I couldn't think of a worse way to lose out on progressing in the tournament. Its happened to me in a league game where both sides disputed if it went in or not but at international level its gota be a kick in the privates.

Good luck to Ireland today!

Anonymous said...

strange decision that wales didnt thro this match and then they can reach the final and gain qualification. since an ireland b team can beat them, the ireland a team should walk thro to the final.
i know if i was coach i would have thrown it

Anonymous said...

I agree no video Umpire so no appeal.
But the officials who made the mistake should be repremended as should all officials who make glaring errors.

Players and coaches are, they loose their place in the team or loose their jobs as a result of dodgey decisions.

They are accountable for their actions so the same should be seen to happen with officials.

Anonymous said...

The Welsh are at home, you might have thrown the match but I can hear the knives rattling for a coach and a team if they threw the match in Dublin no matter who they would end up playing.
Hockey public opinion in Ireland would be very voval in their disapproval.

I have a notion that the Czech team did throw the match.....

Anonymous said...

eh terrible decision if it is the case however not entirely the official's fault and requena is a class umpire.

Anonymous said...

I also have a feeling the Czechs threw the match!

Anonymous said...

Strange comment to suggest that Wales have no hope against Ireland. Ireland were very unconvincing against Belarus, lost to Russia & recently were beaten twice by Poland. I would expect Wales to beat Ireland today. I don't think we are as good as we think we are.

Anonymous said...

but if the czechs lost that match they wouldnt have gone throu to final 4. pretty risky business if they did. maybe they threw the strokes thou

Anonymous said...

Wales do have a hope against Ireland but three losses in a month against Ireland, two of them at this venue, has to make them underdogs.

Ireland easily have the potential to win the tournament, most talented but need to realise it. C'mon lads, do us proud

Anonymous said...

Considering before each match starts the umpires are meant to check the goalposts are rightly aligned and the nets have no holes etc., it is 100% their own fault. Surely if Scotland provide video clarification of the ball enter the goal and leaving through the net, then they should have the score overruled.

Anonymous said...

half time - Ire 1 (Butler) Wales 0

Anonymous said...

Result - Ire 1 Wal 0